Sixth in a series of mini-profiles on committed athletes that will run each
day on OregonLive.com and in the print edition of The Oregonian leading
up to National Letter of Intent Signing Day on Feb. 1.

Name: Dwayne StanfordHometown: Cincinnati, Ohio. Position: Wide receiverHeight: 6-foot-5Weight: 185High school: Taft2011 statistics: Had 32 receptions for 755 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior. Duck fans should be excited because: Do slick, ever-changing uniforms have an impact on recruiting? For those who wonder, look no further than Stanford.

During the 2009 season, Stanford said he became attracted to the Ducks based on their style, starting with the uniforms and ending with their play during the BCS national title run in 2010.

“Probably the uniforms first attracted me,” he said. “Then after I watched them play and saw how fast they go and how they toss the ball around and still get LaMichael (James) 25 carries and Darron Thomas still throws it 30 times, I was impressed.”

But Oregon didn’t seem to reciprocate. He figured Oregon had to be aware of him given that USC had shown interest. Then came an unexpected call.

“Coming into my senior year the schools that we’re interested in me were already talking to me so I gave up hope,” he said. “But when (Frost) called me and said they wanted me I was really excited.”

A Cincinnati boy heading to Oregon was not par for the course. What about Ohio State? Friends and family believed he should have followed in the footsteps of former Cincinnati-area star wide receiver DeVier Posey, who had a standout career for the Buckeyes before being suspended for five games last season.

“Everybody was happy and excited for me but some thought I should have went to Ohio State and been like DeVier Posey,” he said.

Any hope of that happening ended when Stanford visited Oregon. He was hooked.

“The innovation, the facilities are great,” he said. “There’s a reason behind everything that they do.”

As a tall receiver, Stanford said he paid a lot of attention to 6-5 UO wide receiver Lavasier Tuinei.

“I can bring something similar to L.T.,” he said. “I want to bring something like that maybe with a little bit more speed. Really the best of both worlds, big receiver with the speed of a little guy.”

When Tuinei caught eight passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns during UO’s 45-38 win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, Stanford said he envisioned himself one day performing at that same caliber.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking, that I could be doing that for them,” he said. “Working with coach Frost and the offensive coordinator and me working hard, maybe that could be me down the road.”